Hand hair clipper



March 4, 1.930. J. OSTER HAND HAIR CLIPPER Filed Sept. 2, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet nun...

March 4, 1930. J. OSTER HAND HAIR CLIPPER Filed Sept. 2 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Mar; 4,' 1930 JOHN OSTER, OF RAGINE, WISCONSIN -HAND HAIRCLIPPER This invention relates to certain improvements in hand hairclippers; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readilyrecognized and understood by those I skilled in the art in the light ofthe following explanation and detailed description of the accompanyingdrawings illustrating what I at present consider to be the preferredembodiments or mechanical expressions of my invention from among variousother forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions of which theinvention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

H The invention is particularly directed and 1 deals with those types ofhand hair clippers characterized generally by a fiat bottom plate orcomb plate forming the base plate of the implement; a cooperatingreciprocating cutter plate or blade that slides onthe top face 5 of thecomb or base plate; a fixed handle and a pivoted handle on and extendingfrom the base plate with the pivoted handle operatively engaged with thecutter plate or blade for reciprocating the same; a spring, usually ofthe torsion type and mounted around the axis of the pivoted handle, forcontrolling the handle and the blade opera-ted thereby; and a removablehousing or cap over the base plate and blade with the front of the toblade and cooperating comb or base plate exposed, to enclose and housethe inner ends of the handles and spring'with the handles extendingoutwardly from and through the cap. With the foregoing types of handhair clippers it is essential in order to secure efficient operation andresults therefrom in use, that the reciprocating cutting plate or bladebe maintained in-the proper operative alinement with the comb or baseplate, and that the cutting plate or blade be held against the base'orcomb plate under therequiredtension I or pressure for the desiredoperative cutting cooperation between the cutting elements thereof, aswill be clear to and readily understand by those familiar with theoperation and use of hair clippers.

The present invention has as a general objectthereof, the production ofa simple, read- 7 ily assembled and inexpensive construction andarrangement of hair clipper, wherein the Application filed September 2,1926. Serial No. 133,158.

cutting plate or blade is maintained under all conditions in properalinement with the base or comb plate, and wherein the tension orpressure under which the blade is slidably held on and against the combplate can be readily accurately adjusted as desired to meet the variousconditions encounted in use.

A characteristic and main feature of the invention resides in thedesign, construction and mounting of the housing or cap of the hairclipper to cooperate with the base or comb plate and the recipro'catorycutter plate or blade to maintain the proper operative alinement betweenthe comb plate and the blade, and to permit of adjusting the tensionbetween the blade and comb plate through the medium of the cap whichcooperates therewith to this end.

A further object of the invention is to utilize a clipper cap or housingfor cooperative engagement with the reciprocatory cutting plate or bladeto maintain such blade in proper operative alinement with a clipper combor base plate, and thus eliminate the necessity of forming or addingseparate guide and alining elements for the blade with the increasedcomplexity in construction and added cost of production resultingtherefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair clipper housing orcap designed and mounted on a clipper comb or base plate to maintain theclipper reciprocating cutting plate or blade in proper alinement withthe comb plate, and for adjusting the tension between the blade and thebase plate as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand hair clipperconstruction in Which a removable housing or cap therefor forms themeans for maintaining the clipper plates or blades in alinement and foradjusting the tension between the plates; and

in which an efficient mounting and arrangement of the fixed and pivotedoperating handles on the base or comb plate in cooperation with thereciprocating plate or blade and the removable housing or cap, ispresented, to the end that the clipper can be readily assembled anddisassembled and will be positive in operation and durable in use, whileof relatively small cost to manufacture.

With the foregoing genera-l objects, and certain other objects andresults in view, which will be readily recognized from the followingdescription, the invention consists in certain novel features inconstruction, and in combinations and arrangements of parts, as will bemore fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1, is a top plan View of a clipper embodying the reciprocatingblade alining and tensioning cap of the invention.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation.

Fig. 3, is a rear elevation.

Fig. 1, is a bottom plan.

Fig. 5, is a vertical section through the clip per of Fig. 1, with partsthereof in elevation.

Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the alining and tensioning capremoved toshow the arrangement of operatinghandles and torsion springwith the construction and mounting of the cutting plate or bladeoperatively engaged by the pivoted handle.

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the clipper housing or cap.

Fig. 8, is a view in side elevation of the cap of Fig. 7.

'Fig. 9, is a detail perspective view of the inner attached end of thefixed operating handle for the clipper.

Fig. 10, is a detail perspective view of the inner end of the pivotedhandle for the clipoer.

1 In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated herewithpurely by way of example and not of limitation, the flat base plate 1provides the comb or bottom fixed plate or blade having the straighttransverse front edge formed with the row of hair cutting teeth l Theupper surface or top of teeth 1 is elevated above the plane of the topsurface of plate 1 and these teeth terminate along their rear ends in asmooth transverse surface providing a rib or track 1 extending acrossplate 1. A similar raised track or rib 1 having its upper surface in theplane of surface 1 is formed extending across plate 1 parallel to andspaced inwardly from raised surface 1 A flat upper or reciprocatingcutting plate or blade 2 is arranged transversely of the front portionof the base plate 1 and slidably supported on the ribs or elevatedsurfaces 1" and 1, with its front edge formed to provide a straight rowof cutting teeth 2 to cooperate with the teeth 1 of the base plate 1when reciprocated thereon, as will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art. Immediately in rear of its front row of hair cuttingteeth 2 the blade 2 is formed with a transverse groove 2 in and acrossthe upper surface thereof, which is interrupted at a central portion byan elongated slot or opening 2 extending completely through blade 2 andrearwardly from the forward side of.

groove 2 and having a central rearward reduced extension providing aslot or socket 2 extending completely through the blade. The base orcomb plate 1 is provided with a slot or opening 1 extending completelytherethrough and disposed in vertical alinement with the reciprocatingblade slot 2, but of less length and width, as will be clear byreference to Figs. 1 and 6, of the accompanying drawings. The rearrounded or curved edge of the comb plate or' lower fixed blade 1, isfurtherformed with an edge slot 1 extending completely through the bladeand inwardly a distance through the rear edge thereof, for a purposeappearing hereinafter.

A bolt 3 is mounted adjacent and to the rear of the raised track or rib1, in the lower blade or comb plate 1, and extends upwardly therethroughand a distance thereabove, with its head .3 squared and seated in asuitable socket in the under or lower face of base or comb plate 1, soas to prevent turning of the bolt and to have the head substantiallyflush with the lower surface of plate or blade 1. A fixed operatinglever handle 4. (see Fig. 9) is formed with the flat laterallydisposedlower or inner end attaching head 41 having the slot 1* openingthrough its forward edge, and

this handle is mounted in fixed position on and to the clipper baseplate or lower blade 1 by the head 4 which is fitted onto the upper faceof plate 1 with the bolt 3 received in the slot 1, and the nut 4threaded onto the bolt and screwed down onto head 1 to clamp the headbetween the base 1 and the nut. The handle 4. is thus fixed to baseplate or lower blade 1 and extends rearwardly and outwar ly therefrom.

A pivoted operating hand lever 5 is provided for reciprocating thesliding blade 2 on lower blade 1, and in the present example (see Fig.10) is formed with the inner end laterally extending arm 5 terminatingin the depending lug or finger 5 A. bushing or bearing 5 forming a hubfor pivotally mounting arm 5 is provided extending vertically from theupper side of arm 5 with a vertical bore extending therethrough' andthrough the arm. The lever handle 5 is pivotally mounted on bolt 3 abovenut 4 by the bushing or hub 5which receives'the bolt, i

and the finger or lug 5 depending from the arm extends into and isoperatively received by the slot or socket 2 of the reciprocating andslidably mounted upper blade 2, as will be clear by reference to Figs. 5and 6 in par- In mounted position handle 5 exticular. tends rearwardlyand outwardly from the clipper in divergent relation to fixed arm 4.andis swingable on bolt 3toward andlfrom arm 4, to reciprocate blade 2."The arm 5 and blade 2 operatively engaged and operated thereby arecontrolled by a coiled torsion spring 6 mounted over and around the bolt3 and bushing or hub 5 of arm 5, with one end thereof engaging fixed arm4, and its opposite end secured to pivoted arm 5. The spring 6 tends tohold pivoted arm in position on bolt 3 and further normally forcespivoted arm 5 outwardlyfrom arm 4 to its limit of outward movement withblade 2 slid to its limit of movement in the opposite direction to alineits teeth 2 with the teeth 1 of comb plate or lower blade 1, as shown inFigs. 1 and 6. In operation arm 5 is pressed toward arm 4 against thetension of spring 6, then released to permit the spring to return thearm to outward position, so that by repeating these operations blade 2is reciprocated on lower blade 1 to reciprocate its teeth 2 back andforth across lower blade teeth 1 in hair cutting cooperation.

According to the invention, a cap or housing 7 is provided and is sodesigned con structed and mounted as to maintain blade 2 in alinementwith lower blade 1, and to permit of adjusting the tension between theseblades. Preferably, the cap 7 is pressed or struck up by dies or inother ways from suit able sheet material, such as sheet or plate steel,although not limited to formation by such method or from such material.The cap 7 is hollow and in the form of an inverted cup or hood having aflat top wall fitted over and through which the clipper bolt 3 extends,with a downwardly and forwardly sloping front wall terminating in astraight vertically disposed, depending front edge 7 received in andforming a sliding fit with the transverse groove 2 of the reciprocatingblade 2 (see Fig. 2). The central portion of the front edge of cap 7 isformed with a depending tongue 7 having a rearwardly and upwardly bentend edge, which tongue extends and depends downwardly through theelongated slot 2 of blade 2 and fits into slot 1 in lower blade 1 forvertical move ment therein. The tongue 7 is of less width than thelength of blade slot 2 and thus permits of reciprocation of the bladewithin the limitsdefined by the opposite end edges of slot 2 alternatelyengaging the opposite edges of tongue 7 The opposite rear sides of thecap 7 are open and the operating 1 handles t and 5 extend therethrough,respectively, the pivoted handle 5 having free swinging movement in itscap opening. The cap 7 is formed with atail or depending leg member 7 cdisposed betwen the handles 4 and 5 and the cap openings, which legmember 7 isfitted into the rear edge slot l of the base plate or lowerblade 1 and supports the cap in proper position, the lower end of theleg being formed with'shoulders 7 for engaging and bearing on the upperface of blade 1. The cap is secured in mounted position by a nut 8threaded onto the upper end of bolt 3 above the fiat top of the cap witha spring washer 8 interposed between the cap and the nut, so that thecap 7 is clamped into position onto the base plate or lower blade 1,over and covering the rear of the reciprocating blade back of teeth 2*,the inner ends of operating handles 4 and 5, and the spring 6 and majorportion of the bolt 3, with the cap supported by the rear leg member 7.

The cap 7 is so designed and mounted on and over the clipper base orlower blade 1, that the front depending edge 7 is received in upperblade groove 2 with the upper blade 2 in proper operative position onthe lower blade, and maintains the upper reciprocating blade inalinement with the lower blade with the upper and lower cutting teeth 1and 2 of these blades in proper relation for cutting when the upperblade is reciprocated by operation of the pivoted lever handle 5. Thefront blade alining edge 7 of cap 7 is held in the desired positionagainst displacement, by the cap rear leg 7 fitted into the base orlower blade 1 rear slot 1, and the clamping nut 8, and the front tongue7 in the lower blade slot 1 which prevent turning or lateraldisplacement of the cap and front alining edge 7 thereof. In this mannerthe cap 7 functions to maintain the upper reciprocating blade 2 inproper alinement during operation thereof under all operating conditionsto insure the maximum of efliciency in cutting with the clipper.

The cap or housing 7 of the clipper further operates and functions toadjust the tension between the upper reciprocating blade 2 and teeth 2,and the lower blade 1 and teeth 1, to thereby permit of adjusting orvarying the cutting with the teeth as may be desired. Due to theconstruction of the cap and its mounting supported at the rear of lowerblade 1 by the rear leg member 7 and vertically movable at the front orforward end, while maintained in proper position by the forward tongue 7fitting in lower blade slot 1, the forward alining edge 7 a be forceddownwardly against the upper blade 2 in the groove 2 thereof to hold theupper blade in engagement with'the lower blade under the desiredpressure or tension.

This is accomplished through the medium of the clamping nut 8 on theupper end of bolt 3, by screwing this nut downwardly to exert pressureupon the cap and force the forward or front free side of the cap withalining edge 7" and tongue 7 downwardly onto blade 2, the cap rear legmember 7 having sufiicient spring or give to allow the relatively smallrange of vertical movement of the front of the cap required for theblade tension adjustment. By movement of nut 8 upwardly away from thecap the pressure thereon is reduced and allows the front of the cap withedge 7 thereof to move upwardly, by the tendency of leg 7 to return thecap to normal raised position, and the tension or of the cap canpressure between the upper and lower blades is reduced. Theseadjustments are covered by a small range of movement of cap 7 and nut 8,but can be accurately performed to secure the desired tension betweenthe blades and teeth for proper cutting.

The design, construction, and arrangement of the clipper as abovedescribed is such that a clipper can be readily assembled ordisassembled. 'The cap 7. is removable by removing nut 8 from bolt 3 andthen raising the cap from lower blade 1, which then gives access to theremaining elements for removal and replacement, as will be clear. Thecap of the invention is formed as a separate element of the clipperwithout-attachment to or as a part of the fixed handle 4, which isseparately and directly removably attached to the base or lower blade 1,thus eliminating a serious manufacuring difficulty with the general typeof clipper in which the fixed handle is secured to and carried by theclipper housing or cap. The housing or cap hereof by functioning toaline and maintain the reciprocating blade in position with respect tothe fixed blade, and further to allow of adjusting the tension betweenthe blades, eliminates the use of other elements or parts for performingthese functions, and provides a clipper in which a maximum of cuttingefiiciency is obtained in use, with a construction and arrangement ofsimplicity and minimum of parts which lends itself to production at arelatively low cost.

While a hand hair clipper is here shown and described, the broadfeatures of the invention which provide the separate clipper housing orcap functioning as a blade aliner and for adjusting the tension betweenthe blades, is not limited to such clippers, but is of generalapplication to hair and the like clippers and cutting implements wheresimilar or equivalent conditions are. encountered whether of the handoperated or power operated types.

It is also evident that various changes, modfications, variations andsubstitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to theexact and specific disclosures hereof.

What I claim is: I

1. In a hair clipper, a fixed lower blade, a reciprocating upper bladeslidably mounted thereon, a cap resiliently mounted at its rear on therear of the fixed blade and extending forwardly a distance over thereciprocating blade, the reciprocating blade formed with a groovethereacross and a slot through the blade at the central portion of thegroove, the forward edge of the cap slidably engaged by said groove andformed with a tongue de pending through said slot for movementverticall'y therein andpermittinglimitedreciprocation of the blade, theforward edge of the cap alining the reciprocating blade with the fixedblade and movable vertically due to the reciprocating blade to adjustthetension between the blades.

2. In a hair clipper, a fixed lower blade, a

reciprocating upper blade slidably mounted across the forward portion ofthe fixed blade, a bolt secured in the fixed blade to the rear of thereciprocating blade and extending upwardly thereabove, a fixed operatinghandle secured to the fixed blade by said bolt, a movable operatinghandle pivotally mounted on said bolt above the fixed handle, a torsionspring mounted on and around said bolt in engagement with said handlesto normally force them to their limits of movement in one direction,said movable handle operatively engaging the slidable upper blade forreciprocating the same, a separate removable cap fitted over said boltand extending over the blades, a nut on the upper end of the bolt forsecuring the cap in position, and the said cap engaging thereciprocating blade to maintain the same in alinement, the pressureexerted on the reciprocating blade adjustable by said bolt nut to adjustthe tension between the blades. I

In a hair clipper, the combination with a lower fixed blade, and anupper reciprocating blade slidably mounted thereon, of a bolt mounted inthe fixed blade extending upwardly therefrom to the rear of thereciprocating blade, a fixed leverhandle having an inner end headreceiving said bolt, a nut on the bolt clamping said handle head to thelower blade with the handle extending outwardly and rearwardly from theblade, a movable operating handle having an inner end hub portionpivotally mounted on said bolt above the fixed handle head with themovable handle extending outwardly and rearwardly from the lower bladein divergent relation to the fixed handle, a-torsion spring mounted onthe bolt over and around the movable handle hub with one end engagingthe fixed handle and the other end of the movable handle to normallyforce the latter to its limit of outward movement, said movable handleoperatively engaging the upper blade for reciprocating the same, and acap removably secured over the rear portions of the blades by said boltto form a housing for means, said stamping having a tongue'atits forwardend formed with an angular extension, the fixed blade having a slot inwhich the tongue and its extension are snugly fitted, said stamping alsohaving a leg at its rear, said fixed blade having a slot in which theleg is snugly fitted, said stamping and said movable blade havinginterfitting guide means whereby the movable blade is constrained toproper cutting movement, and

- means for forcing the stamping against the blades.

5. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidableback and forth across the fixed blade and having a transverse guideslot, a separate fixed handle secured to the fixed blade, a movablehandle pivotally mounted relative to the fixed handle and operativelyconnected to the movable blade for actuating the same, a separate andremovable tension member and housing consisting of a single piece sheetmetal stamping provided with alining lugs at its front and rear and alsohaving its forward end formed to provide a transverse guide engaged inthe guide slot of the movable blade, said fixed blade having aliningslots in which said alining lugs are snugly fitted to rigidlyinterconnect the fixed blade and the tension member and housing againstrelative lateral movement and thereby so locate the guide for themovable blade as to properly alineboth blades, and releasable andadjustable means for forcing the housing and tension member toward theblades and for holding the alining lugs interfitted with the aliningslots of the fixed blade. 7

6. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidableback and forth across the fixed blade and having a transverse guideslot, a separate fixed handle, means for securing the fixed handle tothe fixed blade and including a bolt fixedly secured to the fixed bladeand to the fixed handle and projecting up above the fixed handle, amovable handle pivotally mounted on said bolt and operative ly connectedwith the movable blade for actuating the same, a separate housing andtension member having an opening loosely receiving the bolt and having aguide coacting with the guide slot of the movable blade to constrain themovable blade to proper cutting movement, said housing and tensionmember having alining extensions at its front and rear portions, saidfixed blade having alining slots in which said alining extensions aresnugly interfitted whereby the guide is properly located and the bladesare alined, and means adjustably secured to the bolt and engaging thehousing to force it against the blades.

7 A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade,

a movable blade coacting therewith, a separate fixed handle secured tothe fixed blade, a movable handle pivotally mounted relative to thefixed handle and connected to the movable blade for operating the same,a removable tension member separate from the handles and having guidemeans cooperable with the movable blade, and cooperating means on spacedportions of the tension member and the fixed blade for directly andrigidly interconnecting said tension member and said fixed blade tolocate the guide means of the tension member in proper relation to thefixed blade whereby the movable blade and the fixed blade are alinedsolely by means of the tension member and fixed blade.

8. A hair clipper comprising cooperable blades, a tension member for theblades, handling and operating means for the blades, cooperating guidemeans between the tension member and one of the blades, interengagingalining means between the tension member and the other blade for rigidlyinterconnecting the tension member and said other blade against relativelateral movement and for properly locating the guide means and aliningthe blades, and means for forcing the tension member against the bladesto "hold the same together with the proper pressure and to retain thealining means interfitted.

9. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidableback and forth across the fixed blade and having a slot, a separatestationary handle rigidly secured to the fixed blade, a pivot extendingupwardly from the portion of the fixed handle secured to the fixedblade, a movable handle mounted on said pivot and having an armoverlying the movable blade and extending into the slot thereof foractuating the movable blade, said arm retaining the blades assembledalthough permitting the said blades to be moved apart a limited distancefor cleaning, a separate and removable housing rigidly and. directlyinterconnected with the fixed blade as against all lateral movement,connecting guide means between the housing and the movable blade,releasable means coacting with the pivot for forcing the housing towardthe blades and means for spreading the handles and for releasablyholding the movable handle on its pivot when the housing is removed.

Sign-ed at Racine, lVisconsin, this 27th day

